Germany owes NATO ‘vast sums’: Trump

US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 17, 2017. PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Saturday accused Germany of owing “vast sums of money” to NATO, and said Berlin should pay Washington more for defence, a day after meeting Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The two leaders showed little common ground Friday over a host of thorny issues, including NATO and defence spending.

On Saturday, Trump tweeted: “Germany owes vast sums of money to NATO the United States must be paid more for the powerful, and very expensive, defence it provides to Germany!”

…vast sums of money to NATO the United States must be paid more for the powerful, and very expensive, defense it provides to Germany!